BUSINESS EDU
How Dive Shops Can Thrive This Summer Amid Rising Costs and Travel Uncertainty by Margo Peyton , co-owner Kid’s Sea Camp, Columbia, SC
T HIS YEAR, THE DIVE INDUSTRY faces real challenges: geopolitical tensions, airline fuel surcharges, and oil prices hovering near $119 a barrel. International trips and distant hotspots are pricier than ever for families. International trips and distant hotspots are pricier than ever for families. Many North American families may skip overseas adventures and stay closer to home this spring and summer. But here’s the opportunity: what looks like a hardship can become a Hail Mary for local dive shops if we pivot smartly. The key? Lean into what’s already working: families, kids, and community. With fewer travelers heading abroad, summer becomes prime time for domestic programs that draw parents, grandparents, and youth right into your storefront. These aren’t just “nice-to-have” activities, they’re revenue engines: gear sales, certifications, rentals, and building
a community that generates repeat business. Here’s how to make it happen. 1. Launch Kid-Friendly Summer Programs – SASY, SEAL Team, Bubble Maker, and focus on junior dive courses. “SASY” is a Surface Supplied Air System that resembles a scuba unit with a small tank and regulator designed to float on the surface. Kids wear a foam-ballasted BCD and snorkel in shallow water. It introduces the youngest kids to ocean science, marine life, and equipment basics. Pair it with arts and crafts, logbooks, and fish ID games, and you’ve got a five- morning summer or holiday program that parents will em- brace. For eight- to ten-year-olds, the PADI Seal Team, Bubble Maker, or even SSI Scuba Rangers offers an introduction to diving through fun learning games with an instructor. Include
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